Bucket tooth construction for the buckets of construction equipment

ABSTRACT

A bucket tooth construction for the buckets or shovels of construction equipment, especially a bucket-wheel excavator, which comprises a tooth holder or support secured to a bucket knife, this tooth holder embodying a portion which protrudes past the bucket knife and at which there is detachably secured a tooth cap. According to specific aspects of this invention the portion of the tooth holder which does not protrude past the bucket knife is welded to the inside of the bucket knife and such portion is at least equal in length to the protruding portion of such tooth holder. Further, the largest profile or section of the tooth holder approximately corresponds to the largest profile or section of the tooth cap.

O Unlted States Patent 1 1 1 1 3,748,763 Zepf 1451 July 31, 1973 [54] BUCKET TOOTH CONSTRUCTION FOR 2,145,663 1/1939 Reynolds 37/141 T THE BUCKETS 0F CONSTRUCTION g 12g aVlS e EQUIPMENT 3,079,710 3/1963 Larsen et al. 1 37/142 R [76] Inventor: Hans-Rudolf Zepf, Glarnischstrasse 3,426,459 1969 Petersen i 37/142 R 15 Ruschlikon Switzerland 3,453,755 Trudeau R 3,650,053 3/1972 Baer 37/142 A [22] Filed: June 7, 1971 2 1 App! 150,572 Primary Examiner-Edgar S. Burr Attorney-Werner W. Kleeman [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT June 9, 1970 Switzerland 8624/70 A bucket tooth construction for the buckets or Shovels of construction equipment, especially a bucket-wheel [52] US. Cl. 37/142 R, 37/141 R excavator, which comprises a tooth holder or support [51 111i. Cl Eozf 9/28 secured to a bucket knife this tooth holder embodying [58] Fleld of Search 37/141, 142 a portion which protrudes past the bucket knife and at which there is detachably secured a tooth cap. Accord- [56] References C'ted ing to specific aspects of this invention the portion of UNITED S TES PATENTS the tooth holder which does not protrude past the 309,553 12/1884 Manning 37 142 R u t knife is welded to the inside of the bucket knife 673,423 5/1901 Cupples 37/141 T X and such portion is at least equal in length to the pro- 1,107,253 8/1914 a k 37/142 R truding portion of such tooth holder. Further, the largl i l l li i est profile or section of the tooth holder approximately e a y 1,395,048 10/1921 McKee 37/142 R fggz gs to the largest profile or Scam of the 1,815,820 7/1931 Andersen 37/142 R 2,092,311 9/1937 Hosmer et a1 37/142 R X 8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 4 l 2 3 6 l0 7 l8 PAIENTED JUL3. 1

SHEET 1 [IF 2 BUCKET TOOTH CONSTRUCTION FOR THE BUCKETS OF CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improvements in construction equipment and more specifically deals with a new and improved bucket or scoop tooth construction for the buckets of construction equipment, especially for bucket-wheel excavators, wherein the bucket tooth is of the type embodying a portion which protrudes past the bucket blade or knife, a tooth cap being detachably secured to this protruding portion of the bucket tooth.

The prior art is already familiar with different constructions of bucket teeth for complementing or fitting onto the bucket blade or knife of the buckets or scoops of excavators and other construction equipment. The bucket teeth constitute a component which is subject to wear, and therefore must be periodically replaced. The portion of each bucket tooth which protrudes past the edge of the bucket blade is subjected to the greatest wear, and therefore construction have become known wherein this portion is detachably connected in the form of a cap member. Until such time as its is necessary to exchange the entire tooth it is possible to exchange a number of such tooth caps, so that the costs can be appropriately reduced.

Still the prior art bucket teeth possess relatively complicated shapes or can only be used for a limited number of bucket or scoop models. Also in the case of a number of prior art proposals the tooth cap or the exchangeable tooth portion is relatively large so that replacement of a tooth portion only brings about a very limited saving.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Hence, in consideration of what has been explained above it will be recognised that the prior art is still in need of an improved bucket tooth construction for the buckets of construction equipment which is not associated with the aforementioned drawbacks of the heretofore proposed constructions. Therefore, a primary object of this invention is to provide just such new and improved bucket tooth construction for such buckets of construction equipment which is not associated with the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art constructions and which effectively and reliably fulfills the existing need in the art.

Still another and more specific object of the present invention is to provide a novel construction of bucket tooth which can be effectively employed for all bucket models, which possesses a form which can be simply and easily secured to the bucket blade or knife and wherein the tooth cap possesses relatively small dimensions so that already by rcplacementthereof appreciablc savings can he realized, and wherein notwithstanding the above the bucket tooth possesses good strength characteristics, provides a good support for the tooth cap and exhibits slight body resistance.

Yet a further significant object of the instant invention is to provide a bucket tooth construction which can be easily and inexpensively manufactured, attached to a bucket blade in a very simple and rapid manner, and is equipped with a tooth cap which can be equally easily replaced when required, the tooth cap being supported in a positive manner at the tooth construction, yet in a way where it can be easily detached therefrom.

Now, in order to implement these and still further objects of the present invention, which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, the invention contemplates the provision of a novel bucket tooth construction of the previously mentioned type wherein the portion of the tooth support or holder which does not protrude past the bucket blade is welded to the inside of the bucket blade and possesses at least the same length as the protruding portion of such tooth holder, and wherein the largest section or profile of the tooth holder approximately corresponds to the largest section or profile of the tooth cap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a side view, partially in section, of a first embodiment of inventive bucket tooth construction;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bucket tooth construction depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view, again partially in section, of a further embodiment of bucket tooth construction of this invention; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bucket tooth construction depicted in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now the drawings, and turning attention more specifically initially to the exemplary embodiment of bucket tooth construction depicted in conjunction with FIGS. I and 2, it will be understood that reference numeral 1 designates the bucket blade ro knife of, for instance, an excavator bucket or scoope. Bucket blade I is provided at its forward edge with a bevelled portion 2. At the inner surface or face of the bucket blade 1 there is attached a tooth support or holder 3 which advantageously can be welded at its edge 4 with the bucket blade 1. The portion 3a of the tooth holder 3 which bears upon the bucket blade 1 can be accommodated to the configuration of such bucket blade 1, in other words can be provided, for instance, also with a bevelled portion 5 which coincides with the bevelled portion 2 of the bucket blade 1. It is important that the length of the tooth holder or support 3 is sufficiently large in order to render possible a faultless attachment of such tooth holder 3 to the bucket blade 1.

Continuing, it will be observed that the tooth holder 3 is provided with a portion 6 which extends past the free edge or end of the bucket blade 1, this protruding portion 6 possessing a substantially wedge-shaped configuration and carrying a tooth cap or cap member 7. Tooth cap 7 is provided with an internal recess, indicatcd at 7a, possessing an inner shape such that it can be tightly fitted onto the protruding wedge-shaped portion 6 of the tooth holder 3. Bores 9, 10, II are provided at the tooth cap 7 and at the protruding portion 6 of the tooth support 3, and which after mounting of the cap 7 at protruding portion 6 align with one another. Thus it is possible to piercingly extend through the aligned bores 9, 10, 11 a securing pin 12, for instance a heavy-duty tightening pin, or some equivalent fastening element, which prevents undesired detachment of the tooth cap 7. In the event that the wear of the tooth cap 7 has become so great that it must be exchanged, then it is easy enough to knock-out the securing pin 12, remove the old tooth cap 7, place a new tooth cap 7 onto the protruding portion 6 of the tooth holder or support 3, and thereafter again knock-in the securing pin 12.

Furthermore, it is important that the tooth holder 3 together with the tooth cap 7 does not extend past the plane which is formed by the lower face la of the bucket or scoop blade 1, whereby no limitations exist as to the utilization of such bucket construction, as otherwise would be the case if the bucket teeth extend at the lower face of the bucket blade. Such limitations would possibly occur, for instance, in snow clearing work, in other words in those operations where the support surface, such as the covering of a road or pavement, should not be subjected to the possible damage of protruding teeth.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the profile or section of the bucket tooth possesses a low body resistance and this can be accomplished by providing same with a very small peripheral surface area. Accordingly, the tooth holder 3 is provided at its largest cross-section with an approximately quadratic or square profile which rearwardly slowly reduces in size and flattens out. The tooth cap 7 likewise advantageously is designed such that at its largest cross-section it also has a quadratic or square profile, so that when the tooth cap 7 is mounted at the tooth holder 3 it approximately aligns with such tooth holder.

Now the spine or back of the tooth holder 3 is provided with marginal ribs 14 between which there is provided a somewhat smaller central rib 15. By virtue of the arrangement of ribs it is possible to provide a saving in material for the tooth holder 3. The recessed portions located between the ribs 14, 15 of the holder 3 can be advantageously constructed such that they possess rounded transition locations 16 in order that the material can slide better out of the bucket. Notwithstanding the fact that there is achieved a saving in material by virtue of the use of these ribs 14, 15 still the strength of the tooth holder is not impaired. Contributing to this effect is also the fact that there is provided a sufficient length of the portion 3a of the tooth holder 3 which bears upon the bucket blade 1, this length being equal to or greater than the length of the portion 6 of the tooth holder 3 which extends past the edge of the bucket blade 1.

Now in FIGS. 3 and 4 there is depicted a further embodiment of the inventive bucket tooth construction and wherein, for convenience in explanation and illustration, the same reference characters have been generally employed in this embodiment as used for similar or analogous components to those considered heretofore with regard to the first embodiment discussed above in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2. With embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 it is to be understood that a noteworthy feature thereof is that special measures have been adopted for improving the support of the tooth cap 7 at the wedge-shaped portion 6 through the provision of additional support surfaces. Thus, it will be recognised that at the tip 20 of the wedge-shaped portion 6 of the tooth holder 3 there is provided a support surface 21. Two further support surfaces 22 and 23 are provided at both side walls of the wedge-shaped portion 6 at the neighborhood of its transition into the largest profile of the bucket tooth. The support surfaces 22 and 23 bound or delimit two nose members 24 and 25, the side surfaces of which are approximately flush with the sides of the largest profile of the bucket tooth.

The support surfaces 21, 22 and 23 considered above cooperate with appropriate counter support surfaces 26, 27 and 28 formed at the base and at the side walls of the wedgeshaped recess 7a of the tooth cap 7. Appropriate or correspondingly shaped recesses 32 and 33 are provided at the side walls 29, 30 of the tooth cap 7 for the nose members 24, of the tooth holder 3,

- ing and including a portion which protrudes past the and in which recesses there are located the appropriate counter support surfaces 27, 28.

What is important to this embodiment is not only the additional arrangement of support surfaces, rather also their position with respect to the underside of the bucket blade or knife 1. The support surfaces 21, 22, 23 of the tooth holder 3 and the counter support surfaces 26, 27, 28 of the tooth cap 7 are advantageously approximately parallel to the underside or underface la of the bucket blade 1. In so doing, it is advantageous if the support surface 21 at the tip 20 of the tooth holder 3 is directed away from the underface 1a of the bucket blade 1 and if both support surfaces 22, 23 are directed towards the underface of such bucket blade 1. By virtue of the described arrangement of additional support surfaces at the tooth holder 3 and at the tooth cap 7 it is possible to achieve an improved support of the tooth cap 7 upon the tooth holder 3. The additional support surfaces 21, 22, 23 and their counter support surfaces 26, 27, 28, owing to the particular manner that they have been arranged, are especially suited for taking-up forces which occur at the tooth cap 7 and transmitting such to the tooth holder 3.

Both of the described bucket tooth constructions fulfill all of the prerequisites for economical utilization thereof. Owing to the fact that such tooth constructions are exclusively attached to the inside of the bucket blade 1 they can be used practically at all constructions of bucket blades which might be encountered. It is here also mentioned that the tooth holder and the tooth cap mounted thereon are positioned such that they are either disposed above or substantially flush with the plane taken through the underface of the bucket blade. Additionally, the tooth cap 7 only constitutes a very slight portion of the total bucket tooth weight. Furthermore, it is also possible to provide the tooth cap 7 with slight depressions or recesses l7, l8 sothat along with the wear of the tooth cap there occurs a self-grinding effect.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly un derstood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims. Accordingly,

What is claimed is:

l. A bucket tooth construction for the buckets of construction equipment, especially bucket excavators, comprising, in combination, a bucket blade, a tooth holder attached to only the inside surface of said bucket blade, said tooth holder being attached by weld bucket blade, a tooth cap having a socket completely surrounding and detachably secured to said protruding portion of the tooth holder, the portion of the tooth holder which does not protrude past the bucket blade having a length which is at least equal to the length of the protruding portion of said tooth holder, the shape and size of the largest profile of the tooth holder being substantially the same as the shape and size of the largest profile of the tooth cap, the bottom surface of said tooth holder and said tooth cap being flush with a plane defined by the undersurface of said bucket blade.

2. The bucket tooth construction as defined in claim 1, wherein the largest profile of the tooth holder and the tooth cap are substantially square in shape.

3. The bucket tooth construction as defined in claim 1, wherein said tooth holder has a spine portion equipped with two marginal ribs, a central rib arranged between said two marginal ribs.

4. The bucket tooth construction as defined in claim 3, wherein the portions between said ribs are constructed as sliding surfaces for the material and possess rounded transition locations.

5. The bucket tooth construction as defined in claim support surfaces at the base and at both side walls of said wedge-shaped recess of said tooth cap with which cooperates said support surfaces.

6. The bucket tooth construction as defined in claim 5, wherein said support surfaces and said counter support surfaces are arranged substantially parallel to the underface of said bucket blade.

7. The bucket tooth construction as defined in claim 5, wherein said support surface at the tip of said tooth holder faces in the opposite direction from the underface of said bucket blade and the support surfaces to both sides of said protruding portion are located at the region of the largest profile of the tooth holder and face in the same direction as the underface of the bucket blade.

8. The bucket tooth construction as defined in claim 5, wherein at least some of said support surfaces are de fined by two nose members merging with the largest profile of the tooth holder, recess means provided in the side walls of the tooth cap, said nose members protruding into said recess means, at least some of said counter support surfaces being defined by said recess means of said tooth cap. 

1. A bucket tooth construction for the buckets of construction equipment, especially bucket excavators, comprising, in combination, a bucket blade, a tooth holder attached to only the inside surface of said bucket blade, said tooth holder being attached by welding and including a portion which protrudes past the bucket blade, a tooth cap having a socket completely surrounding and detachably secured to said protruding portion of the tooth holder, the portion of the tooth holder which does not protrude past the bucket blade having a length which is at least equal to the length of the protruding portion of said tooth holder, the shape and size of the largest profile of the tooth holder being substantially the same as the shape and size of the largest profile of the tooth cap, the bottom surface of said tooth holder and said tooth cap being flush with a plane defined by the undersurface of said bucket blade.
 2. The bucket tooth construction as defined in claim 1, wherein the largest profile of the tooth holder and the tooth cap are substantially square in shape.
 3. The bucket tooth construction as defined in claim 1, wherein said tooth holder has a spine portion equipped with two marginal ribs, a central rib arranged between said two marginal ribs.
 4. The bucket tooth construction as defined in claim 3, wherein the portions between said ribs are constructed as sliding surfaces for the material and possess rounded transition locations.
 5. The bucket tooth construction as defined in claim 1, further including means providing support surfaces at the tip of said protruding portion of the tooth holder and to both sides of said protruding portion, the socket of said tooth cap defining an internal substantially wedge-shaped recess, and means providing counter support surfaces at the base and at both side walls of said wedge-shaped recess of said tooth cap with which cooperates said support surfaces.
 6. The bucket tooth construction as defined in claim 5, wherein said support surfaces and said counter support surfaces are arranged substantially parallel to the underface of said bucket blade.
 7. The bucket tooth construction as defined in claim 5, wherein said support surface at the tip of said tooth holder faces in the opposite direction from the underface of said bucket blade and the support surfaces to both sides of said protruding portion are located at the region of the largest profile of the tooth holder and face in the same direction as the underface of the bucket blade.
 8. The bucket tooth construction as defined in claim 5, wherein at least some of said support surfaces are defined by two nose members merging with the largest profile of the tooth holder, recess means provided in the side walls of the tooth cap, said nose members protruding into said recess means, at least some of said counter support surfaces being defined by said recess means of said tooth cap. 